Storage battery



Nov. 18, 1958 s; w. ROLPH STORAGE BATTERY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5. 1953 ll 9 E W j T ab. a

INVENTOR. Wyn/w @MPH flrramv y Nov. 18, 1958 s. w. ROLPH STORAGE BATTERY Filed June 5. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. SAMUEL Wynn/l 204w Arroewcvs United States I 2 ce STORAGE BATTERY Samuel Wyman Rolph, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Electric Storage Battery Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application June 5, 1953, Serial No. 359,841 7 Claims. (CL 136-177) The present invention relates to storage batteries and, more particularly, to the maintenance of different electrolyte levels in storage batteries having free electrolyte to provide optimum battery performance with minimum attention when operated at various temperatures or in different climates. 3

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved storage battery: having free electrolyte and, more particularly, a lead-acid type of automotive battery so constructed and arranged as to facilitate the maintenance of different electrolyte levels so that a higher level can be maintained in summer or in warm climates, under which conditions the evaporation of electrolyte is greatest, and a lower level and, in turn, a higher acid concentration in winter or in cold climates; that is, under conditions where the evaporation is less but the service requirements imposed upon the battery are relatively heavy.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved storage battery and particularly a battery of the type referred to, having an electrolyte level for specific gravity control, including simple and reliable means for readily determining the quantity of water to be added to produce a selected appropriate electrolyte level or specific gravity for the season of the year.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved method of operating a storage battery having free electrolyte therein and, more particularly, a lead-acid type automotive battery, which method comprises varying the electrolyte level in accordance with the ambient temperature.

The invention resides in certain steps of operation and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter apparent from the following description of the invention described with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lead-acid type automotive battery embodying the present invention, with parts broken away, to show the internal construction;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the batteryshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view approximately on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but with parts shown in a different operating position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modified construction and having the closure cap for the filling well removed;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the closure cap for the filling well applied thereto;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view approximately on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view approximately an the line ss of Fig. 6.

2,861,118 Patented N 0y. 18, 1958 Generally speaking, the battery may be of anyconventional construction modified as hereinafter indicated. The batteries shown in the drawings and herein described are automotive, multi-cell, lead-acid batteries and only those parts are shown and described as are necessary to. a complete understanding of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the. batteries shown therein comprise a case, designated generally by the reference character A, of suitable acid resistant material divided by partitions 10 into cell compartments or cells B, within which compartments the respective batteryelements {C are housed. The battery elements C are of conventional construction except that the connector and terminal posts may be made a little longer than is the usual construction, if desired, to permit thecarrying of a higher electrolyte level above the battery elements thannormally is the case. Each battery element C comprises negative and, positive plates alternately arranged and separated from one an other by battery plate separators 14. The positive and negative battery plates are connected in positive and negative groups by plateconnectingstraps 15, 16, respectively, to which the connector and terminal posts .are connected in a well-known manners" 'In the batteries illustrated, the cells or cell compartments B are closed at the top by individual cellcoveis D, and D, Figs. 5-8. However, a single cover or other suitable means maybe employed, As previously -stated,-,the present invention contemplates operation of the batteries with different liquid levels or specific gravities, depending upon the temperature to which they are subject in use. To

this end, the cell covers shown, whichcovers form the top Walls of the cells, are provided with liquid level or specific gravity controls, it being understoodthat for any given charge condition of the battery, the specific gravity reading is a function of the quantity of electrolyte present which, in practice, 'is a function'of the level of the electrolyte.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4,

' which illustrates the invention as applied to a non-overfill .detail.

As shown, the filling well or conduit is formed by two aligned, tubular projections or bosses 17, 18,'the former projecting from the upper wall or cell cover toward the interior of the cell and the latter projecting upwardly from the cover proper. The outwardly projecting boss 18 is provided with external threads for the reception of a cap or closure member 20 and is counterbored to form an enlargement 21 at'the upper end of the opening,

designated generally as 22, which opening extends through the cover. The filling opening or well proper is formed byan inert shown as a tubular member or sleeve 23 rotatably supported within the opening 22 and having a flange 24 on its upper end received in the counterbore 21 with the underside of the flange resting upon the shoulder formed by the counterbore. The lower or inner end of the sleeve 23 is provided with two slots 25 located apart extending approximately /2" inwardly from its lower end and with a relatively small, annular flange 26 engaging underneath the lower end of the member 17, which flange retains the sleeve 23 in position in the opening 22 The sleeve 23 is made of material sufl'iciently resilient to permit'the lower ends thereof to spring inwardly as the "sleeve-23-isinserted in the opening 22 from the -top and then properly positioned 2 thl'6l11 to spring outwardly, causing the flanges 26 to engage underneath the end of *th"memb er" 17.-' i "The f'lowerend of the boss 17 is provided with slots '27 similar to' the slots in the member 23, the con- 'struction being such that when the sleeve 23 is in the "position shown in the drawings, the slots 25 will be closed by the boss-17 but'when rotated slightly in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, the slots 25 "and 27 will align with' each other, thus ,changing the elevationof the effective opening of the lower end of the gfillih'g: well" above the tops of the plate separators 14 'ffrom'the level 28 shown in Figs. 3 and '4, and designat ed winter level in 'Fig. 3 to a level 30 defined by the tops of the slots 25, "27 and designated in Fig. 3 as summer levelf, Obviouslygthe slots 25, '27 could be replaced by circular or like "holes placed the desired -fdi stance fromthe endsof the relatively rotatable members17, 23, or some other suitable construction'could mpl ye Assuming the battery to be in full chargecondition, and thatwhen the battery is in this condition, specific ;'gravity readings of 1.260 and '1.280are the preferred specific gravity readings for'surnmer' and winter operations, respectively, these readings'would correspond to 'gacidconcentrations of 1441 and .478 grains per liter of electrolyte; Ifthe charge condition were different, for 1 example, if the battery were half charged, obviously the cid concentrations and the specific gravity readings would correspondingly different. The specific gravity can :be raised from'11260 to 1.280 or vice versa by changing the 'electrolytelevel either by allowing water to evaporate from the'electrolyte or adding water to the electrolyte.

The required change in level depends, among other things, gt'iponthe size of the battery cells with reference to their -volume,cross-sectional area, etc. If the volume of the electrolyte is about 1650 cc. per cell when the specific g'ravity readin'g, under the full charge condition assumed 1.280, it would require the addition of about 138.4 cc. .or 8.4 cu. in. of water,'which would amount to abouta "I2%inc r'ease in electrolyte volume of 1788.4 cc. to drop the' specific gravity reading to 1.260. "Assuming that the cross-sectional area ofea'ch cell is 16.9 sq. in. and that thediame'ter of'each post is 0.5 in., the difference betfweenthe' summer and winter levels would be about 0.6 in. The length ofthe .slo'ts'25, 27 shown would, there- Qfdrefbe about 0.6 in.

For purposes of facilitating rotation of the sleeve. 23 from the. position shown in the drawings to a'position Y yvherein'the 'slots.25,..27 will be aligned, the. upperend of the" sleeve 23' is provided with a driving connection in;

the form of radial slots 31. When the filler capQZll is removed, these sIotsinay be engaged by a suitable driving i instrument, such as a large screw' driver or-the like. As

. own, however, the upper or outer surface of the filler .9 .is' 'provid ed' with an-outwardlyprojecting, rela- 'tively ilong, narrow projection 3 2 adapted when the cap is"i'einoved andinverted, as shown in Fig. 4, to engage 'inthe grooves 31 for rotating the sleeve. The underside o ,the', annular'flange24 of the sleeve" 23 is provided cap 20 is removed from the filling well and positioned -over the vent opening, the battery can be automatically filled to one of two levels, depending upon the position of the sleeve 23. The lower level is particularly adapted for cold weather operation where the evaporation of electrolyte is small and the service conditions imposed upon the battery relatively heavy and the other level which, as shown, is preferably about /2" above the lower level, is particularly adapted for summer operation. In summer, the amount of evaporation is usually greater than that which takes place in winter. The service requirements,.however, are usually less severe, .which permits the use of .an electrolyte of lower specific gravity without materially aflecting the operation of-the battery and filling the battery tofla higher electrolyte level decreases the amount of servicing otherwise required.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5-7, the filling and vent conduits are combined as distinguished from the construction shown in Figs. 1-4. As shown in the former figures, the filling wellor conduit of the cover D comprises tvvo aligned bosses 40, 41 projecting downwardly and upwardly'of the cover proper. The'filling opening through the cover comprises two parts 42, 43 of different diameter connected by an annular ledge or shoulder having a horizontal and an inclined portion 44, 45, re-

spectively. In addition to the opening 43 the boss 40 includes a small'vertical hole 46 opening into the lower end of the boss and the inclined surface 45 at its lowest point.

During the refilling operation, the openings 43, 46

? are closed by an external, annular skirt or flange 47 on an' insert shown'as a tubular member 48 positioned in the opening 43 with its annular base portion or flange 47 resting upon the shoulder 45, see Fig. 5. In this position, the tubular member or sleeve 48 is inclined with respect to the vertical and the opening 43 is of sufficient diameter with respect to the outside diameter of the tubular member or sleeve to permit this inclination. Liquid, such as water, poured into the upper end of the filling well rises in the upper part 42 of the filling'well until it overflows into the upper end of the tubular member 48; thereafter, it flows into the cell proper until the level of the electrolyte in the cell rises high enough t'o"close the lower end of the sleeve 48. The cap or closuremembri50 for the filling well has an externally thra'dedJdoWnwiardly projecting boss 51, the lowerend of which is adapted to engage the base or flange'47 of the tubular or sleeve member 48 when the boss 51 is i liewed into the internally threaded boss 41. The lower end of the boss'51 engages the flange 47 at its highest point, which is above"and spaced from the horizontal portion 44 of' the shoulder that's'upports the sleeve 48 gas therebetween. When the cap 50'is applied, the cell the closure member.

I time lug 3'3whichnornially engages within an arcuate slot-in the shoulder upon which the flange rests for limif it: g rotation of the sleeve 23, one limit being when the [slots 25, 27 are aligned. i i

The vent conduit shown is of more or less conventional construction and includesan upwardly projecting boss 34 adapted tofifit into the end of a downwardly projectfling boss 35 in the underside of the cap 20 for the purpose ofclosing the vent opening 36; during the "filling lzopeifation. The reference character 37 designates a fora escapeof electrolyte through the vent opening.

.1 9. eg ss i l be a a en that. ho; th

inousbafileemployedforthe purpose of preventing The flange 47 is located intermediate the ends of the sleeve 48, being nearer'to one end than'the'o'the'r, as

shown, about A" from the center of the sleeve." With 65 this construction, theinsert or tubular member 48 can be inverted, i. e., reversed to. obtain two different filling levels approximately /2" apart. 'The drawings show the insert or sleeve 48 in its winter level position and is inverted to reverse the positions of the tubular projections to obtainthe summer. level, designated 30.

From the foregoing disclosure and description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent that the objects heretofore enumerated and others have been accomplished and that there has been provided s'ns s a i mrt vs k th i ss s n a b t having an electrolyte level or a specific gravity control incorporated therein, including simple and reliable means for readily determining the quantity of water to be added to produce a selected, appropriate electrolyte level or specific gravity for the season of the year.

While two embodiments of the invention have been shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular constructions shown; for example, any liquid level indicator, including so-called reflector type of liquid level indicators, having two properly spaced, liquid level indicating means can be employed to control the liquid level on the specific gravity of the electrolyte of the battery in the manner disclosed, and it is my intention to cover hereby all variations and modifications which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a storage battery cell cover provided with an opening, a filling well surrounding said opening, and extending downwardly from said cover, a ledge extending along the inner perimeter of said well; and an invertable insert disposed within the well, said insert being supported by said ledge and adapted to indicate difierent electrolyte levels when in alternate positions; said insert comprising a base provided with an aperture, and an upstanding skirt attached to and extending continuously around said base.

2. In combination, a storage battery cell cover provided with an opening, a filling well surrounding said opening and extending downwardly from said cover, a ledge extending along the inner perimeter of said well, and an invertable insert disposed within the well, said insert being supported by said ledge and adapted to indicate difierent electrolyte levels when in alternate positions, said insert comprising a base provided with an aperture, and upstanding projections attached to said base.

3. In a storage battery containing free electrolyte, a cell container including a cover having a filling opening, a first filling tube extending downwardly from said filling opening and containing a longitudinal slot at the lower end thereof, a second filling tube rotatably associated with said first tube and having a longitudinal slot at the lower end thereof, the bottoms of said tubes being located at a level to provide an electrolyte volume for cold weather operation of the battery, and the tops of said slots being at a level to provide an optimum electrolyte volume for warm weather operation of the battery.

4. In combination, a container for a storage battery including a cover having a filling opening for electrolyte, a filling well surrounding said opening, and an insert disposed within said well, said insert being movable between two positions within said well and having structure which in a first of said positions establishes an effective length of the filling well to an optimum low level of the electrolyte for cold weather operation of the battery and which in a second of said positions establishes an effective length of said opening to a higher optimum level of the electrolyte for warm weather operation of the battery.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which said filling well depends from said opening to a distance at least equal to said optimum low level of the electrolyte and in which said insert is substantially coextensive in length with said well, said insert and said well having cutaway portions extending from said low level to said high level and adapted to be selectively closed by relative move ment of said insert between said two positions for establishment of said difierent effective lengths of said filling well.

6. The combination of claim 4 in which said well is provided with a ledge extending around its inner perimeter and in which said insert is provided with a flange for engaging said ledge, said insert having axial portions of difierent length extending in opposite directions from said flange, said insert in said one position establishing by the shorter axial extension said high level of the electrolyte and in the inverted second position establishing said low level of said electrolyte.

7. In combination, a container for a storage battery including a cover having a filling opening for electrolyte, a cap for closing said opening, a filling well surrounding said opening and extending downwardly from said cover, a vent for said container open to atmosphere with said cap in a position closing said filling opening and closed to atmosphere upon movement of said cap from said position closing said filling opening, and an insert disposed within said well, said insert being movable between two positions within said well and having structure which in a first of said positions establishes an effective length of the filling opening to an optimum low level of the electrolyte for cold weather operation of the battery and which in a second of said positions establishes an eflective length of said opening to a higher optimum level of the electrolyte for warm weather operation of the battery.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,163,992 Ford Dec. 14, 1915 1,354,800 Butler Oct. 5, 1920 2,276,091 Reppert Mar. 10, 1942 2,297,326 Rieser Sept. 29, 1942 2,302,719 Sandusky Nov. 24, 1942 2,302,720 Sandusky Nov. 24, 1942 2,506,952 Doughty May 9, 1950 OTHER REFERENCES Storage Batteries, Vinal, 3rd ed., 1940, pages 211-215. 

